A CONDUCTOR is hanging up his baton after 16 years.

Musical director of Stour Choral Society Duncan Archard conducted his final performance on Saturday, December 1.

The performance was held in Mistley Parish Church where an audience was introduced to a new an very worthy composition to the repertoire.

It included words by poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and music by composer Sasha Johnson Manning.

David Shearmur, president, said the choir enjoyed the expanding picture the songs and words created, added to by the soloists, Jemima Watling and Gary Griffiths and the readers Pamela Hanson Abbott and Brenda Green

He said: "This was the last concert conducted by Duncan Archard as the musical director and he inspired the singers to give of their best.

"The accompanist Stephen Smith, organ, captured the orchestral colour of the work using his own excellent ability."

The performance ended with a medley of Christmas carols for the choir and audience which made a grand finale.

The Stour Choral Society members and friends thanked Duncan for his sixteen years as the musical director and conductor and all that he achieved in that time.